The singlehanded Mini 12s need a little more protection than
the other classes racing on Puget Sound at the Sperry Top-Sider
Seattle NOOD, so these scaled-down models of 12-Metres will race on
Lake Union for the weekend. "It's a lot more protected than Puget
Sound," says Fred Pot, the secretary of Seattle's Mini 12 fleet, of
the venue. "And, of course, these boats don't have engines."

The Seattle YC boasts a fleet of 20 Mini 12s, and so far 11 have
signed up for the NOOD. "This is the second year I've participated,
and it's a lot of fun," says Pot. "It's also the fleet championship
for this fleet of Mini 12s."

IRC Rule 21.1.5(d) says “During a regatta run on consecutive days, including any lay days, the sails on board shall remain the same and be on board for all races. The Rule may be amended by Notice of Race”.

This means that unless the Notice of Race for the event specifically amends this rule, you cannot decide which sails to take with you on each day of a regatta, and leave the others ashore. You must make your selection of which sails you are going to want aboard, at the beginning of the regatta, and carry those same sails every day. It is not unknown for officials to walk the docks after boats have left for the racing area and note …

In the Olympics, Britain's Ian Walker was a two-time silver
medalist, triumphant in the 470 (1996) and the Star (2000). But his
Volvo Ocean Race career has been far less successful, skippering
hard-luck campaigns in the past two races. Now planning his third
campaign, Ian from experience…

On being the team leader… The 2008-9 Volvo Ocean Race as skipper
of Green Dragon was a voyage into the unknown for me - my longest
previous offshore race was the Fastnet! There is always the nagging
doubt as to whether you are up to the challenge. Fortunately I had
a very strong team around me and I was able to learn from the likes
of Neal McDonald …

Outside of the people who regularly get to sail AC72s, Yann
Guichard is a sailor in one of the most enviable positions in our
sport. Spindrift Racing, which he runs with Dona Bertarelli
(Ernesto's sister), has recently acquired the 40m long former
Banque Populaire maxi trimaran (now called Spindrift 2), adding to
the La Trinite-sur-Mer based team's existing MOD70 trimaran and
Bertarelli's D35 Ladycat, which it also manages. Spindrift Racing's
season is understandably busy juggling three boats on race courses
dotted around Europe.

This kicks off with next month's opening event of the D35's
Vulcain Trophy, the Open de Versoix Nation…

The plea for a return to nationality in the America's Cup is a
recurring thread on Scuttlebutt, and it is always interesting to
restate why we are where we are on this matter.

Most America's Cup fans would know that prior to the Second
World War, the yachts were mainly crewed by professionals and that
nationality was not an issue, particularly as many of the crews
were British and Scandinavian fisherman. Arguably the first
Corinthian crew was that of Tommy Sopwith's Endeavour in the 1934
Match, which was mainly crewed by amateurs, after his professional
crew struck for more money.

It's Family Island Regatta week down here in George Town and
the town is abuzz with activity. We have never experienced the
regatta first hand, but from what I hear, it's a BIG deal in these
parts and promises "traditional Bahamian sloop racing at it's
finest." The regatta draws a huge crowd and the population of this
small town allegedly doubles this week, going from five to ten
thousand people. Bahamians come in from all the neighboring islands
to cheer on their respective boats, captains and their crews. It's
like Mardi Gras meets Key West Race Week and it's (apparently) a
week long party that entices spectators from around the
world.…

Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta came to a conclusion yesterday
with a high spirited prizegiving at English Harbour. Robert Tobin
and the crew of the Fife ketch Sumurun, designed and built by
William Fife in 1912, won the regatta overall and received the
prize of a watch from sponsors Panerai. Among the prizes given out
last night, a special lifetime achievement award was made to
Carriacou boatbuilder Alwyn Enoe.

His designs account for six of the Carriacou sloops that raced
at Antigua this week, all of them designed by eye and built on the
beach in Carriacou by him and his sons.